Policy Based Storage Appliance Virtualization

1. A method for a policy-based storage appliance virtualization that identifies storage space based on a specified storage management operation type, the method comprising: specifying a specified storage management operation type in a request; checking one or more policies in a management console to identify storage space that can be used with the specified storage management operation type, where the storage space is provided by at least one storage appliance; and identifying the storage space that can be used with the specified storage management operation type, in response to checking the one or more policies.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the specified storage management operation type comprises allocating storage space from the at least one storage appliance to a host.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising: specifying a requested storage space amount to be allocated from the storage appliance to the host; and checking one or more policies in the management console and comparing the requested storage space amount and identity of the host with the policies, so that the management console identifies a candidate storage space that can be allocated from the at least one storage appliance to the host.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: generating a candidate virtualized storage pool identification that identifies a candidate storage space that can be used with the specified storage management operation type.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the candidate virtualized storage pool identification comprises a name of at least one storage appliance.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the candidate virtualized storage pool identification comprises a name of at least one storage volume and a name of each storage appliance associated with the at least one storage volume.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a policy sets a constraint on the specified storage management operation type.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the constraint comprises: allocating storage space on a particular storage appliance for a host.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the constraint comprises: allocating storage space on a particular storage volume in the at least one storage appliance.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the constraint comprises: allocating storage space on a particular storage appliance for a host, where the particular storage appliance supports a particular network-related protocol.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the constraint comprises: allocating storage space on a particular storage appliance for a host, where the particular storage appliance is set to a limit on storage space size allocation.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the constraint comprises: allocating storage space on particular storage appliances to achieve load balancing among the storage appliances.

13. The method of claim 7 , wherein the constraint comprises: allocating storage space on particular storage appliances by selecting storage space among a plurality of storage appliances based on a round-robin scheme among the plurality of storage appliances.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: restricting a modification of a policy in the management console by an administrator, based on a role of the administrator.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: restricting an addition of a policy in the management console by an administrator, based on a role of the administrator.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: restricting the allocation of storage space to a host by an administrator, based on a role of the administrator.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the specified storage management operation type is selected from a group consisting of: deleting storage space allocated to a host; resizing the storage space allocated to the host; disconnecting the storage space allocated to the host; creating a snapshot of data in the storage space; restoring the snapshot of data in the storage space; and restricting a snapshot management request from the host to some storage space allocated to the host.

18. An apparatus for a policy-based storage appliance virtualization that identifies storage space based on a specified storage management operation type, the apparatus comprising: a management console configured to receive a request that specifies a specified storage management operation type and configured to check one or more policies in the management console to identify storage space that can be used with the specified storage management operation type, where the storage space is provided by at least one storage appliance and configured to identify the storage space that can be used with the specified storage management operation type, in response to checking the one or more policies.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the specified storage management operation type comprises allocating storage space from the at least one storage appliance to a host.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the request includes a requested storage space amount to be allocated from the at least one storage appliance to the host; and wherein the management console checks one or more policies in the management console and compares the requested storage space amount and identity of the host with the policies, so that the management console identifies a candidate storage space that can be allocated from the storage appliance to the host.

21. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the management console generates a candidate virtualized storage pool identification that identifies a candidate storage space that can be used with the specified storage management operation type.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the candidate virtualized storage pool identification comprises a name of at least one storage appliance.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the candidate virtualized storage pool identification comprises a name of at least one storage volume and a name of each storage appliance associated with the at least one storage volume.

24. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein a policy sets a constraint on the specified storage management operation type.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the constraint comprises: allocating storage space on a particular storage appliance for a host.

26. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the constraint comprises: allocating storage space on a particular storage volume in the at least one storage appliance.

27. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the constraint comprises: allocating storage space on a particular storage appliance for a host, where the particular storage appliance supports a particular network-related protocol.

28. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the constraint comprises: allocating storage space on a particular storage appliance for a host, where the particular storage appliance is set to a limit on storage space size allocation.

29. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the constraint comprises: allocating storage space on particular storage appliances to achieve load balancing among the storage appliances.

30. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the constraint comprises: allocating storage space on particular storage appliances by selecting storage space among a plurality of storage appliances based on a round-robin scheme among the plurality of storage appliances.

31. The apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising: an access control manager configured to restrict a modification of a policy in the management console by an administrator, based on a role of the administrator.

32. The apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising: an access control manager configured to restrict an addition of a policy in the management console by an administrator, based on a role of the administrator.

33. The apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising: an access control manager configured to restrict the allocation of storage space to a host by an administrator, based on a role of the administrator.

34. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the specified storage management operation type is selected from a group consisting of: deleting storage space allocated to a host; resizing the storage space allocated to the host; disconnecting the storage space allocated to the host; creating a snapshot of data in the storage space; restoring the snapshot of data in the storage space; and restricting snapshot management requests from the host to some storage space allocated to the host.